McDowell seals miracle comeback but Poulter is joined by Westwood and Donald on early flight home after Match Play misery

Three down with three to play in the first round of the Accenture Match Play Championship on Wednesday, Graeme McDowell spotted his agent on the phone as he walked off the 16th tee. ‘I figured he was checking airline schedules,’ said G-Mac, smiling. ‘After all, you don’t expect to win when you’re in that position against an opponent playing so well.’

What followed was one of the more improbable recoveries in the history of even this volatile event. Everything changed when McDowell rolled in a 30ft birdie putt at the 16th that seemed to spook his opponent, Gary Woodland.

To that point, the match had been all about Woodland’s enormous power as he bombarded McDowell with a stream of howitzers. Thereafter, it was all about nerve and resolution and there’s hardly anyone, of course, who can live with the Ulsterman when those are the requirements.

Casualty: Ian Poulter crashed out early at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship

In the hole: Rory McIlroy reacts after a birdie on the 10th hole in his match against Boo Weekley

At the 18th, poor Woodland’s composure deserted him completely as he botched two bunker shots in a row, before McDowell, who holds the other match play title – the Volvo version - put him out of his misery at the 19th with his third birdie in four holes to set up an intriguing match against Japan’s brilliant young talent, Hideki Matsuyama.

'I’m just elated,’ said McDowell. ‘My caddy said to me when we were four down after seven this would be an interesting game to win and it was certainly that. It’s a pleasant surprise to be sitting here having got through to the next round.’

McDowell’s unlikely victory followed one of the more straightforward kind for Rory McIlroy, as he duly disposed of the veteran Boo Weekley by a 3&2 scoreline.

There was a victory as well for Justin Rose but disappointment for Scot Stephen Gallacher, who was two up with three to play against four-time major champion Ernie Els, only to lose out on the 19th. Rose and Els will now play one another on Thursday.

The wrong side of the ledger also proved a chastening one for England’s high profile trio Ian Poulter, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood. The alarming slide of the latter pair, both former world No 1s, continued as Donald was hammered by Matteo Manassero while Westwood was thumped by promising American, Harris English, who will now play McIlroy.

Just to complete a largely miserable day for the English contingent, David Lynn lost at the second extra hole to Brandt Snedeker, while Welshman Jamie Donaldson was on the wrong end of a fearful thrashing from Billy Horschel. England has provided at least one semi-finalist in each of the last five editions but only US Open champion Rose has the chance of keeping that sequence going this year.

Early trouble: Luke Donald, a past champion in this event, struggled against Matteo Manassero

Off the beaten track: American star Bubba Watson hits off dirt on the 10th hole at Dove Moutain

Finn-ished: Mikko Ilonen hits his tee shot on the second hole during his defeat against Bubba Watson

For the third time in four years Poulter found himself consulting airline schedules at lunchtime on Wednesday. The 2010 champion considers this one of his favourite events but it has to be said it’s not often these days the love is returned.

The Englishman made no attempt to disguise his disappointment following a wretched display against American Rickie Fowler. ‘I intend to get my backside out of here and on a flight as quickly as I can,’ commented Poulter.

Typically, he didn’t try to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes, offering instead a perfect summary of why he lost by a margin of 2&1. ‘I gave him three holes and you can’t expect to do that and win matches,’ he said. ‘I’m really disappointed, because I just never put him under any pressure at all. It’s really frustrating because I worked hard during five weeks off but right now I’m getting nothing out of it whatsoever.’

Slow starts to a year are nothing new for the streaky Poulter but that doesn’t lessen the frustration. Poulter playing anything like his Ryder Cup best would have walked this match. Two down at the turn, the 10th offered a succinct example of where he went wrong. The 38-year-old was in the middle of the fairway after a fine drive while Fowler was in the rough with no hope of getting the ball close to the flag.

As it transpired he didn’t need to, as Poulter missed the green with a short iron, leaving himself in a terrible spot. Fowler duly played safe to the middle of the green and couldn’t believe his luck to walk off with a win after Poulter duly failed to get up and down for a par.

Sandman: Sergio Garcia hits out of a bunker on the 13th hole in his match against Marc Leishman

Just desert: Jamie Donaldson looks at his ball on the eight hole during his match against Billy Horschel

Off course: American Gary Woodland hits from near a viewing area on the 16th hole

Only towards the end did Poulter show signs of life. Three down with five to play, he won the 14th against the odds, holing from 20ft while Fowler missed from a third of that length.

At the next three holes Poulter gave himself putts to reduce the deficit but couldn’t convert any. At the 16th a baby started wailing – anyone know why parents bring infants to golf tournaments? – and he duly left the putt short. At the 17th it looked like a Poulter moment as he had an eight-footer to extend the match but not on this day. It was a fittingly limp farewell.

Poulter against Fowler was one of no fewer than 16 first-round matches to feature a European against an American, and McDowell’s was not the only notable win. Swede Peter Hanson defeated in-form Dustin Johnson by the surprising score of 4&3, while France’s coming man Victor Dubuisson, already a near-certainly for Europe’s Ryder Cup team, could make absolutely sure of his place here if he carries on in the manner of his 5&4 thumping of Kevin Streelman. American-based Swede Jonas Blixt achieved a fine 2&1 success against Keegan Bradley.

The longest match of the day saw Spaniard Sergio Garcia prevail in a 22 hole marathon against Australian Marc Leishman.